Month: January 2021

Categories
Playground Planning

Childhood Obesity & How to Avoid It

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month! In truth, it’s common knowledge that America’s children are suffering from obesity at greater rates than ever before. Here at BYO Recreation, we deal with a wide variety of communities, from churches and schools to planned communities and public parks. Each of these communities approach us because they share a deep concern for the health and happiness of their children.

Childhood Obesity Avoidance Through Play

Playgrounds are a great way to combat childhood obesity in any community.

Installing a playground is a great first step to improving the overall health of your community members and fighting childhood obesity. However, there is even more that you can do. The best part is, you don’t need much more than the space you have and participants. Planning regular family-friendly events that center around a unique theme is a simple and great way to make even more use of your playground.

Timing is Everything

Plan your event for times of day when families are together and not likely to be attending other events. For instance, avoid planning a park day at your HOA playground that competes with church services. Your childhood obesity avoidance events should work in tandem with other events.

We recommend starting at 6pm on a weeknight and include a potluck cookout to cover dinner. You’re more likely to catch families who are on their way home. Or plan an early afternoon sack race on a Sunday to encourage the church crowd to swing by after services.

Mix It Up

Do not rely on one type of activity because people will quickly become bored. Instead, try switching between games of skill, like corn hole or horse that will attract older children and teens. Incorporate silly games like ‘Follow the Leader’ or ‘Simon Says’ that everyone can participate in but are easy for young children to succeed at.

Childhood Obesity Awareness Plans That Succeed

Make sure you advertise your event as much as possible, pass out flyers and hang up posters at local family hot-spots. Look for corporate sponsors to donate prizes and try to round up volunteers to keep things fair. Even silly games need a timekeeper and should you manage to get a prize donated, you’ll need a few extra referees to keep an eye on your Simon says participants. Providing fun games and playgrounds is an easy and effective way to combat childhood obesity in your community!

Categories
Community & Park Spaces

4 Vital Park Project Details You Shouldn’t Overlook

Park project live example

Planning a park project is often a journey of several years rather than a onetime endeavor. As your space matures and you get feedback from guests. You’re sure to discover things that are missing or that you wish you thought of during the initial design phase.

Park Project Details to Keep in Mind

Sure your playground is great but how do you keep families from driving up to the picnic space? You have great benches and even water fountains but you are shocked by how quickly the trash cans fill up. We have our list of 4 park project details our customers say they wouldn’t overlook the next time around.

Playground Borders

If you are choosing a loose fill surfacing, spend the extra money and install playground borders. Technically, if your playground is enclosed by walkways, parking lots, fencing playground borders aren’t required. However, what you save in upfront costs, you just may lose in lost surfacing and extra work. Borders are designed to stick up above the ground and keeping your surfacing in place. While many customers prefer a flush look, other methods of retaining loose fill surfacing do not work as well.

Bollards

Having trouble controlling traffic at your park? If you don’t want to fence in your entire facility, you do have another option for your park project. Bollards are designed to provide an attractive way to keep street traffic out of pedestrian spaces. Close off wide walkways and keep cars out of ungated areas while still allowing foot traffic to pass easily. Bollards are exceptionally helpful for wide jogging trails that may be mistaken for a road and are more attractive than a sign.

Bike Racks

If your space can be accessed on foot you should probably plan to include a few bike racks, at least one by every obvious entrance. Without a proper place to store them, your guest may tie their bikes to tables, benches or trees. This can cause damage and prevent other guests from fully enjoying the park.

Recycling Containers

There is a certain irony when a green space isn’t exactly green. Adding recycling containers not only sends a strong message that you support local recycling efforts but also helps prevent trash receptacles from becoming overfilled too quickly. A green park project projects a sense of social responsibility to your community.

Park Project Inspiration

One way to prepare your own park project is to visit other parks in your area and take a good look around. Do you find that there is enough waste disposal? Do you wish there were more seating options? Are you able to find a comfortable place to relax? What works and what doesn’t? Create a list of everything you like and bring it to the design meeting with you. What is on your park project’s must have list?

Categories
Playground Equipment

Top 3 Elements of Play to Include on Your Playground

Incorporating all the primary elements of play is vital for maximizing the value of your play space. Playgrounds can look like a complicated mix equipment but when examined more closely you might notice something. Each piece of equipment is a variation of a few basic components broken apart, reimagined, and put back together in an infinite and diverse array of equipment. Today we are breaking down the elements of play. Hopefully, you can use this information to build a more challenging and satisfying playground.

Primary Elements of Play

Climbers

The first of the elements of play are climbers
The first of the elements of play are climbers.

Children climb constantly almost from the moment they begin to stand. That said, it’s no surprise that playgrounds are filled with equipment to climb. Climbers, the first of the elements of play, come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as simple as an inclined ramp or as elaborate as a spidery arrangement of cables.

Climbing provides children with more than just a means of moving from point A to point B. When children first begin to climb they are learning to perfect and coordinate the movements of their hands and feet. As children master basic climbing, they progress to more advanced obstacles. Eventually, they begin climbing higher, tackling more difficult equipment, and climbing across spaces with just their hands. Finally, they start to desire more challenging climbers that incorporate other elements of play.

Balance Beams

Two boys playing on a balance beam.
Balance beams come in several different shapes, materials, and sizes.

From simple balance beams to more advanced obstacles, balance is nearly part of almost every piece of playground equipment. Balancing elements of play provide children with a sense of accomplishment upon completion and children become inventive with balance equipment. They find their own ways to make it more challenging by going faster, returning without touching the ground, or balancing on one leg. Today’s playgrounds have climbing components suspended on springs and balance boards that move and swivel. Each type of motion requires a different skill set, adding variety and difficulty to any playground.

Motion Play

The third of the elements of play are motion components.
Motion play is the final component of the elements of play, and include spinners, spring riders, and more.

Components the involve movement are always the most popular equipment on any playground. Children crave motion that is both soothing and thrilling. Swings, spring riders, spinners, and other motion equipment are all cousins, providing a fun way to exercise. This equipment also teaches children the basics of physics as they move, pump, and twist to propel themselves through space.

How to Include More Elements of Play in Your Playground

When you are designing a playground be sure to look for ways to incorporate each of these elements into your playground to ensure a successful design. The more of these elements that a component requires during use the more challenging it will be. If you are building for little children, choose low, stable equipment, short slides and gentle spring riders. For older children, choose higher structures, more challenging climbers and that swing or flex and require greater balance. Providing a wide range of difficulty levels will broaden the appeal of your playground and ensure that each visitor remains entertained. A well-rounded playground should begin and end with the elements of play.

Categories
Playground Equipment Playground Planning

5 Pieces Of Playground Equipment You Didn’t Know Were Banned

There’s no doubt that playground equipment has changed a lot since many of us were children. Safety focus, environmental concerns, and rapid advances in technology have helped create playgrounds that are better than ever. Playgrounds also have extraordinary longevity, with equipment frequently outlasting its safety rating.

Our designers and playground installation crews are constantly working to incorporate our customers’ existing equipment into new playground installations. After all, the most budget-friendly option is to always reuse what you can. We even transport donated playgrounds to smaller venues that can still use them. Unfortunately, sometimes well-loved equipment just isn’t up to today’s standards.

That’s one of the many reasons that each member of our installation team is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. They frequently identify and remove equipment that’s still in good shape but no longer considered safe. This is one of their lists of playground equipment that just has to go.

Banned Playground Equipment List:

Wood Playground Equipment

In 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advised manufacturers to discontinue the use of wood equipment treated with Chromated copper arsenate (CCA). This compound has been is use for decades to prevent insect and fungi infestation on playground equipment. Unfortunately, CCA contains arsenic, which is toxic to humans and leaches into the ground.

There is some evidence to suggest that yearly resealing may reduce arsenic migration from the equipment. However, the CPSC recommends removing and properly disposing of this equipment. Odds are if your equipment isn’t made of redwood or cedar and was manufactured before 2003, it contains CCA.

Animal Swings

An example of animal swings banned playground equipment
This type of playground equipment has been banned since 1995.

Animal swings are large swings with shapes like lions, tigers, and bears (oh my). These are typically plastic molds and have a fun aesthetic. Unfortunately, since 1995, the CPSC recommends removing all animal swings from playgrounds. They are heavier than standard swings and cause serious injury when a child is struck by an occupied animal. Nevertheless, their durability and appeal means that we still occasionally see these lingering on public playgrounds.

Trapeze Bars

Trapeze bars are fairly common on private playgrounds. They typically consist of a single bar positioned between two hanging chains. Allowing children to swing back and forth, dangle upside down, and spin, trapeze bars are a liability for a public playground. Children can’t see what they’re doing or where they’re going when using this type of playground equipment. Due to their mobile nature, trapeze bars are extremely easy to fall off of (typically head first). Ground or playground-fixed turning bars are a safe and fun substitute.

Gym Rings

Similar to trapeze bars but less common, we don’t recommend this simple piece of playground equipment. Gym rings are actually serious athletic equipment for use under the guidance and supervision of a professional coach. In addition to being easy to fall from or pulled from during rough play, most children lack the upper body strength to properly use gym rings with other playground equipment. Additionally, the long chains are an entanglement hazard.

Tire Swings with Real Tires

Banned tire swings
Banned tire swings.

Our playground equipment experts advise against using real tire swings. Over all, manufacturers are turning away from rubber tire swings altogether. Aside from being dirty (rubber tires attract and hold onto dirt), water that gathers inside the tire can create a breeding ground for insects, mold, and mildew. To avoid this, users frequently slice drainage holes into the bottom. As a result, this compromises the strength of the swing over time. Additionally, rubber swings are heavier than their plastic counterparts. The weight of a few children added on can injure a child crossing into a swing’s path.

Why Ban Playground Equipment?

Regulations on playground equipment change for a variety of reasons. Earlier equipment was installed based on inspired designs that were not safety tested. On the rare occasion that equipment poses a serious threat to safety, a standard recall would be issued. Today’s equipment is rigorously tested and monitored by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They perform ongoing research to continually improve safety guidelines and regulations of playground equipment.

Categories
Playground Planning

How to Choose the Right Playground Size for Your Public Space

Choosing the right playground size that fits your space and can accommodate everyone can be tricky. Buying an overly large playground structure is a surefire way to burn through your budget. Furthermore, it doesn’t always guarantee that children will get more enjoyment out of your playground. We have compiled our design teams’ top tips for making sure you install a playground that is sized just right.

Why is Playground Size so Important?

Sometimes bigger really is better. High enrollment schools, military bases and communities frequently need a large playground. This is especially true of areas that draw crowds to the area with parades, fairs and other large events. Installing the wrong playground size can be dangerous, as children will struggle to utilize the equipment without moving into the path of other children.

Overly large playground size can seem empty even during the busiest times fail to engage children in interactive play and can feel isolated. Playgrounds should provide opportunities for children to play together as well as independently to be considered truly successful. An unnecessarily large or poorly laid out playground can also make it more difficult to supervise children.

A well designed space will be able to accommodate everyone. Additionally, the right playground size encourages cooperative play by placing children in close proximity and utilizing collaborative components. This will give everyone plenty of room to stretch their legs while encouraging children to play side by side. During the busiest times, your playground shouldn’t feel empty nor should it feel crowded.

Understand Playground Size Basics

Playground size chart
Playground size chart for common age groups.

To determine the right capacity for your playground size you should know how many children you intend to serve. Schools and churches have an advantage since they often know how many children will use their playground at one time. Communities and HOAs should consider how many residences are within walking and biking distance as well as how many other playgrounds are in the area. If your community lacks park facilities, plan on building your playground to accommodate more children. If there are several other parks nearby, assume that only the families living closest will frequent your park.

As a rule of thumb, the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education recommends at least 75 square feet of total outdoor play area for each child over 2 years of age using a playground at one time. For children under two the recommendation is at least 50 square feet. For children under 18 months, the minimum drops down to 33 square feet. This is just one of the many reasons that playground size should be separated by age if at all possible.

Make Smart Design Choices

A well planned playground size will rely on providing children with a great diversity of activities. You can accomplish this goal in any space and with any budget. Large playgrounds may require several similar activities. You can incorporate multiple slides and climbing apparatuses, and the ratio of equipment to children will remain balanced – even filled to capacity. When planning a larger structure with multiple features in the same category you can increase the diversity of equipment by selecting equipment that focuses on different muscle groups. This ensures that the children get a good workout and that your structure doesn’t feel repetitive.

With these considerations in mind, you can focus more on the quality of your playground. Don’t assume that the children in your community need a huge playground to have a great time. Do you currently have a small community but know you will be experiencing growth over a few years? You can choose to have a larger playground size design and build it out in stages as you grow!

Categories
Playground Planning

4 Child Development Milestones

Child development is the cornerstone for infants and toddlers who are in the middle of the most rapid period of growth. This is the most rapid change they will ever experience and they do the majority of their learning through play.  When presented with a challenge, children in this age group will spend days repeating the same task until they have mastered it completely. Understanding how simple behaviors are actually huge milestones is a great way to get ready for playground planning.

Primary Child Development Milestones

Stage 1: Pulling Up

Children using a pull-up bar.
This pull-up bar is perfect for child development.

The transition from baby to toddler happens over a few short months and playgrounds for this age group must be planned accordingly. Toddler structures provide plenty of hand-grasps to encourage children to pull up onto the equipment and support themselves as they develop the coordination and strength required to stand alone.

→ We Love: Toddler Pull Up Mirror, simple and sturdy children will play with their reflection for hours.

Stage 2: Crawling

Toddler showing the child development stage of walking
Here, a toddler is showing the child development stage of crawling.

Even though walking is a huge milestone, crawling improves hand eye coordination and even toddlers who can walk should be encouraged to crawl during play. We love to use low arches and tunnels because they encourage children to crawl and play independently.

→ We Love: Tiny Tiki Play Structure because it combines panels that encourage interactive play with a fun tunnel with see-through windows that let caregivers peek in.

Stage 3: Walking

Child shown walking on grass
In the United States, the average age children start walking is approximately 12 months.

Young walkers will prefer walls and surfaces that provide predictable support as they lean on them and cruise along the equipment.

→ We Love: The Big Outdoors because the gentle incline provides a challenging surface while the sturdy walls and handrails provide support.

Stage 4: Climbing

Children showing the climbing stage of child development
Climbing is a vital part of child development.

As soon as children are mobile they begin to climb. Even small heights provide children with a new view of the world and a sense of accomplishment. Whether climbing steps or small inclines, children will repeat this feat for hours until they have mastered it.

→ We Love: Tree Club Toddler Playground because it offers a simple to climb angle and a gentle slide for a reward.

Ready to Plan for Early Child Development Play?

Exposing children this age to a wide range of new experiences is vital to their growth. Everything they touch and everywhere they go teaches them new information about the world around them. The primary goal of any equipment should be to provide a safe outlet for children to explore the world around them while practicing their new skills.